Beautiful and informative. They even have a small gift shop. Make sure to watch the short movie…read moreabout the canyon.

One of the best visitor centers we have been too. The staff is so nice and informative. They told…read moreus the best trails for kids and the gift shop is really nice as well.

On Sunday March 2nd, Tony and I enjoyed the "Little River Canyon Rim Scenic Drive" located outside…read moreof Fort Payne, and OMG..the scenic overlooks are gorgeous, breathe-taking and best of all ...FREE.. Grace's High Falls Overlook visited by us on March 2, 2014. It is so lovely here. Considered the Grand Canyon of the East, Little River Canyon Rim Scenic Drive outside Fort Payne, AL..Here's a close-up picture of Graces High Falls. This 'high' waterfall plunges past river-carved sandstone.

Great place for a family get together or picnic. Somewhat off of the beaten path. It will be…read morebeautiful there in a few weeks when the trees start to bud.

I really love seeing covered bridges and especially when they're in excellent condition and easy to…read moreaccess. This one is located just off I-20 west of Atlanta and it's a nice little drive. The bridge is in very good condition, completed in 1850 or so. It is the oldest existing covered bridge in all of Alabama! Originally located on Coldwater Creek and allegedly built by slaves, it was relocated to here and the original site now has a boring concrete and steel bridge. This bridge was fully restored in 1990 and is in excellent condition. The bridge is no longer open to vehiclular traffic but you can absolutely walk through it and think back to what it must have been to drive your horse-drawn wagon across this bridge. [Review 2281 of 2024 - 242 in Alabama - 23297 overall]

I've completely run out of historic covered bridges in Georgia, so I thought I'd spend a lazy…read moreSaturday afternoon amusing myself by driving around central Alabama. The first of my many stops was here in Oxford. Coldwater Covered Bridge was built in 1850 and is located at Oxford Lake Park just behind the Oxford Civic Center. It was relocated here in 1990 from its original location (about 8 miles west) and spans a small creek created by the overflow water from Oxford Lake. The bridge is 63-feet long and uses a hybrid combination of the Multiple King Post and Town Lattice truss systems. At 165 years of age, it is the oldest surviving covered bridge in the state of Alabama. It is also known as Hughes Mill Covered Bridge due to its proximity to Hughes Saw & Lumber Mill when it was first built. Although the bridge was severely damaged in 1920, repairs made it possible to keep the bridge functional for vehicular traffic. It was eventually replaced in 1974 by a concrete bridge, then totally restored before being relocated to its current home. The park and bridge can actually be seen from Interstate 20 and only takes you out of the way by a few minutes if you choose to stop here. Just take exit 185 for Hwy 21 (Oxford/Anniston) and go north to Recreation Road (currently there is a McDonald's on the corner). Follow it until you see the Civic Center and park on the lake side. Enjoy!

NOCCALULA!!! Yes we are back! Yep. Today is Ty's birthday and he loves this park. But, we have a…read moreNewcomer, Donner has never been here before, She so excited. We are a party of 5 and you are super dry today!!! But, we see Mr. Crane! Hey Mr. Crane. Where are the ducks hiding? There is not a one in sight. Either way, it's hot , so we look around and keep it moving in this heat.

We have been here a few times and always enjoy the scenery and of course beautiful Noccalula! Come…read moreafter a rain for increased water production for a bigger waterfall! There is a paid admission section with the railroad, mini golf, hiking under the Falls, petting zoo and gardens, but campground area just to see the Falls is free. Dog friendly walking (on leash). In warmer months they also have Frios Gourmet Pops open for sweet treats and something to cool off with.

The Hiwassee Dam is a little bit of a detour from Murphy, NC. But I highly recommend a stop. The…read moredam is hydroelectric and is remarkable to see just the size of it. You can drive over it too. I wasn't sure at the time if I could take a walk on it so I behaved myself this time. There appeared to be sidewalks on both sides in sections so I will do that next time. The dam is 307 feet high and holds 67 billion gallons of water. Hiwassee Lake is about 22 miles. The dam took 1600 men four years to build before being completed in 1940. At the time it cost $24 million to build. The dam generates enough electricity for 28,000 homes. The views are breathtaking here so if you are in the area this remarkable piece of work.

If you're in the Murphy area, or planning a trip out to the falls, and enjoy being outdoors, be…read moresure to take a quick detour and venture into easily accessible Hiwassee. Surrounded by the Nantahala and Cherokee National Forests - This cozy and colorful park has a lot to offer, including a rich habitat for deer, wild turkey and other animals. Have your camera ready to snap memorable moments, scenery and wildlife. Built in the 1940's, the Hiwassee Dam is largely known to locals as 1 of 32 dams built & planned to provide flood control, navigation and electricity for the region. Today, this piece of history is known as one of the top 5 things to do/points of interest for those visiting Murphy. Upstream from Apalachia Reservoir, the river stretches for 22 miles northwest to southeast. The Pros: - Great for picnics. - Free and easy to locate parking. - The area features a day-use park that provides access to boating, fishing and paths for exploring the Hiwassee Reservoir and its tributaries. - The area is isolated and not overloaded with people/tourists (even during season). On most occasions you will find yourself alone and have this stunning area all to yourself. It's well suited for canoeing & rafting. - The dam is close to Cherokee, the falls and many of Murphy's other "must-see" areas. Prior to your trip, consider these tips: - Check out & research the weather conditions prior to making your plans to venture out onto the roads, or into the water. The reservoir comes from deep below the surface and the water temperature is super chilly, even in the summer. - Keep an eye out for snakes! - If it's summer, be sure to pack bug spray and sun screen. Fun Facts: - The dam is known as a historical landmark used by the Navy Bureau of Ordnance for torpedo testing into the deep water, and the isolation provided by its mountainous environs. - The dam is currently operational and still providing electricity today.

This may be one of the oddest bridge location I've ever run across. You will find it along a garden…read morewalking path crossing a small gully with a stream no wider than 1 foot. The path is behind a church with multiple buildings that make it feel a lot like a 19th Century religious compound (not implying that it is). Prior to coming here I actually thought this was one of the last remaining historic bridges in the state of Georgia, but it turns out it was built in the 90's. The path allows you to wander through a variety of memorial trees and vegetation that I can only assume were planted in memory of church member loved ones. Most everything has a small plaque with the name of the person whom it was planted for (or by). The bridge itself is a real beauty and is said to have made use of 100 year old timbers from another old 1800's bridge that was once nearby. It certainly is one of the most handsome covered bridges in the state, even if it isn't a historic one. Location: Shiloh United Methodist Church Built: 1994 Length: 42 feet Crosses over: essentially what would be considered a drainage ditch. FINAL THOUGHTS You don't actually have to park in the church parking lot and walk the trail to see this bridge. Turn South on Davenport Mill Road and the bridge is less than 100 feet from the road and easily visible. My Georgia covered bridge list is nearly complete. I've provided a list below of all the covered bridges I've visited so far in the state from the furthest north to the deepest south. I've also included the year they were built: Stovall Mill ~ 1895 [furthest north] Blind Susie ~ 1915 [shortest] Poole's Mill ~ 1906 Cromer's Mill ~ 1906 Mashburn Estate ~ 1958 [private - no access to the public] Hurricane Shoals ~ 1882/2002 Euharlee ~ 1886 Roswell Vickery Creek ~ 2004 Watson Mill ~ 1885 [longest] Howard's Mill ~ 1905 Concord/Nickajack ~ 1872 Stone Mountain/Effie's ~ 1891 Elder's Mill ~ 1897 Shiloh Trail ~ 1994 [furthest west] Haralson Mill ~ 1997 Old Town Morrow ~ 2008 [newest] Big Red Oak Creek ~ 1840 [oldest] Calloway Gardens ~ 1870 Auchumpkee ~ 1892/1997 [favorite] Parrish Mill @ George L. Smith State Park ~ 1880 [furthest east] Coheelee Creek ~ 1891[furthest south] There are at least 25 more, but most are small, have been built in the last 50 years and are on private property.

Our roadtrip was impacted by the Government Shut-Down (again), but we decided to visit what we…read morecould & hope for the best. The Rangers/Staff made our day by having a cancelation stamp available at the Chambers of Commerce in Anniston, along with additional information. We able to visit the actual site of the bus bombing & get a feel of the area. There is still a vibe surrounding the spot. The Bus Mural with information panels really broke down the chain of events so you could fully understand the sequence of actions by those involved. It is crazy to think this was not that long ago, we still have a ways to go and thank God there are individuals like the Freedom Riders who are willing to risk their life to get us there.

Definitely a great place to visit if you are into history. The staff were polite and helpful.read more